Riley Helps Lead U.S. Past Mexico, 96-44

Irish women's basketball standout nets 12 in second straight rout.

June 26, 1999

TORREJON DE ARDOZ, Spain - Notre Dame junior center Ruth Riley (Macy, Ind.) was one of six players in double figures as she netted 12 points in helping the 1999 USA Women's World University Games Team to a 96-44 win over Mexico at the Pabellon Polideportivo Municipal in Torrejon de Ardoz. It was the second straight lopsided win for the American team at the 1999 Spanish International Basketball Tournament as the U.S. squad beat Portugal 92-39 the previous day.

Riley, who started for the U.S. against Portugal, came off the bench against Mexico and played 16 minutes. She missed just one field goal as she hit six-of-seven shots from the field. In addition, she grabbed six rebounds.

For the second straight game, Katie Douglas of Purdue led the USA team in scoring as she came off the bench and scored 15 points.

The U.S., which shot 51.4 percent from the field, opened the contest with 11 unanswered points in less than two minutes and forced five Mexico turnovers in its first six possessions. The United States continued to play fast-paced game on both ends of the court and by the time Mexico converted its field goal of the contest after missing its first eight attempts, the Americans held a commanding 21-6 lead with 13:24 to play in the first half.

Riley and her team will be in action again tomorrow when they conclude the three-game tournament against host Spain.